Manda Bay, Manda Island
An idyllic and intimate boutique beach lodge set on the quiet and unspoilt northwestern tip of Manda Island, Manda Bay makes the perfect away-from-it-all retreat and is also known for its excellent ocean fishing and wealth of water sports.
“Nowhere is better for chilling out than palm-fringed Manda Bay- totally laid-back, it is more house party than hotel. Come here for a Robinson-Crusoe encounter – go barefoot all day, walk along bone-white sand beaches, lie by the infinity pool and watch the children try their hand at all sorts of watersports. Forget kids’ clubs – here is an island where your rug rats can run wild and free. Take a trip on the 60-foot dhow, go deep-sea fishing, snorkelling or water-skiing and – most popular – feed bush babies in the bar at night. There’s no aircon and no mod cons, just rough-and-tumble, back-to-basics rustic loveliness. The food is fresh from the sea, simple and delicious – watch your brood tuck into tuna sushi and mangrove crab.”
Tatler Magazine
Accommodation at Manda Bay
All the rustic and charming bedrooms are made with locally sourced materials – coral rock masonry, driftwood and mangrove poles, floors of mkeka woven palm matting and roofs of makuti palm thatching. The rooms are simple and uncluttered, with open-air windows with neither shutters nor glass. Every room has an oversized walk-in mosquito net, overhead fan and an ensuite bathroom. Each room also has a veranda with easy chairs and a swing bed.
Beachfront Rooms (11) These are situated right on the seawall closest to the waterfront at high tide and the beach at low tide. These large airy rooms have either a 7ft King-size bed or twin single beds – plus room for one or two extra beds for children if required. Room 11 is an extra-large villa able to accommodate three additional beds.
Palm Rooms (5) These are set slightly further back from the seawall on higher ground behind the Beachfront Rooms. The rooms are cool with a sea breeze and have either a 7ft King-size bed or twin single beds – with room for one or two extra beds for children if required. Room 7 is a family cottage with an extra room for up to three children.
Garden Rooms (6) These smaller and more closely-spaced rooms are situated in the centre of the property. They were originally designed with teenagers in mind but have been popular with all kinds of guests – particularly with fishermen who are out at sea all day and families or couples looking for an extra-affordable option. They have standard-sized twin or double beds.
Summary
- Informal luxury, privacy and tranquility on a palm-fringed peninsula
- Authentic, charming, owner-managed and hosted
- Swimming pool and miles of empty white-sand beaches
- Big-game fishing, reef fishing, salt-water fly fishing – and plenty of water sports
- 22 spacious private bandas with ensuite bathrooms
- Rates from Kes 26,000 per adult guest per night on a full-board basis in a Garden Room
Detailed Information
Accommodation and facilities
- 11 beach front rooms
- 5 sea view rooms
- 6 garden rooms
- All rooms have ensuite bathrooms
- Infinity pool (filtered saltwater)
- Private airstrip
- Bar and dining room
- Poolside lounge
- Games room with table tennis, darts and pool
- Reading/meeting room
- Reasonable cell phone signal
- Internet available
- Laundry service
Activities and excursions include –
- Deep sea fishing
- Inshore fishing
- Saltwater fly fishing
- Dhow sailing aboard ‘Utamaduni’
- Sailing
- Windsurfing
- Kayaking
- Waterskiing
- Snorkelling
- Banana & inflatable tube rides
- Game drives
- Archaeological site visits
- Cultural tours of Lamu
- Spa Treatments
Location
Surrounded by miles of soft white sand and coconut palms, Manda Bay sits in a sheltered position on the unspoilt north eastern tip of Manda Island. The lodge looks out across the deepwater channel that separates Manda and Pate islands from the Kenyan mainland and the Indian Ocean. Both the airport and Lamu Town are about 8 miles away by boat and the trip by speedboat takes less than 30 minutes via the narrow Mkanda Channel (‘the belt’).
Nearby Manda Toto Island (‘Baby Manda’) makes a lovely and gentle boat excursion and is an excellent place to swim, snorkel and picnic. It is also known for its beautiful birdlife and often attracts flocks of many thousands of northern Carmine Bee Easters. Manda Bay Lodge is at the forefront of local conservation and community initiatives and is committed to protecting the area’s environment, marine life and wildlife.
The land behind the lodge is dry bush country scattered with Doum Palms and Acacia and Baobab trees. Nocturnal animals predominate including mongoose, civet cat, porcupine, genet cat, dik dik and bushbuck. There is also a sizeable herd of buffalo and game drives are possible in Manda Bay’s convertible Range Rovers. Close to the lodge are the Manda Town Ruins – the sizeable remains of an ancient Swahili town dating back over 1000 years.
Visitor’s Book
“What a wonderful place – magical sunsets, the restless ocean at your doorstep, professional and friendly staff, delicious feasts from the sea, and a capable manager who puts guests at ease and provides for their every desire.”
Jessie, Utah USA
“Manda Bay is a relaxed dream – three steps from your bed and you are in the sea. There are lovely sandy beaches, palm trees, cold drinks and really friendly staff. You’ll eat really delicious and fresh locally-caught fish and crab. There is awesome deep sea and fly fishing, and the waterskiing and screamers are great fun for both children and adults.”
Luke, Yorkshire UK
“We had the privilege of spending a few nights at Manda Bay on the recommendation of some friends and boy were we glad – the place is literally paradise! The accommodation is so rustic and wonderful, the food sublime, the cocktails even better – and the staff (can we call the amazing family that run the place staff?) were a joy to spend time with. I cannot speak highly enough, nor urge you enough to go and experience it for yourself. We will definitely be returning!”
ELD, Dubai
Rates
- Minimum stay – 2 nights
- Minimum stay over Christmas, New Year – 5 nights
- Children from 0 – 4 years stay free
| Beach front Rooms | |||
| LOW SEASON (April, June, Sept) | MID SEASON (July, Nov-19th Dec) | HIGH SEASON (5th Jan – March, Aug, Oct) | FESTIVE SEASON (20th Dec – 6th Jan) |
| Kes 32,500 per adult sharing per night | Kes 42,380 per adult sharing per night | Kes 60,580 per adult sharing per night | Kes 84,630 per adult sharing per night |
| Kes 39,000 per single per night | Kes 49,140 per single per night | Kes 70,200 per single per night | Kes 95,680 per single per night |
| Kes 26,000 per child (5-12 years) sharing per night | Kes 32,500 per child (5-12 years) sharing per night | Kes 49,400 per child (5-12 years) sharing per night | Kes 71,760 per child (5-12 years) sharing per night |
| Kes 13,000 – Extra bed in room (under 18 years) | Kes 19,500 – Extra bed in room (under 18 years) | Kes 26,000 – Extra bed in room (under 18 years) | Kes 42,900 – Extra bed in room (under 18 years) |
| Palm Rooms | |||
| LOW SEASON | MID SEASON | HIGH SEASON | FESTIVE SEASON |
| Kes 32,500 per adult sharing per night | Kes 40,040 per adult sharing per night | Kes 57,200 per adult sharing per night | Kes 80,730 per adult sharing per night |
| Kes 39,000 per single per night | Kes 45,500 per single per night | Kes 66,300 per single per night | Kes 91,260 per single per night |
| Kes 26,000 per child (5-12 years) sharing per night | Kes 32,500 per child (5-12 years) sharing per night | Kes 41,600 per child (5-12 years) sharing per night | Kes 62,790 per child (5-12 years) sharing per night |
| Kes 13,000 – Extra bed in room (under 18 years) | Kes 19,500 – Extra bed in room (under 18 years) | Kes 26,000 – Extra bed in room (under 18 years) | Kes 42,900 – Extra bed in room (under 18 years) |
| Garden Rooms | |||
| LOW SEASON | MID SEASON | HIGH SEASON | FESTIVE SEASON |
| Kes 26,000 per adult sharing per night | Kes 26,000 per adult sharing per night | Kes 26,000 per adult sharing per night | Kes 62,400 per adult sharing per night |
| Kes 28,600 per single per night | Kes 28,600 per single per night | Kes 28,600 per single per night | Kes 65,000 per single per night |
| Kes 19,500 per child (5-12 years) sharing per night | Kes 19,500 per child (5-12 years) sharing per night | Kes 19,500 per child (5-12 years) sharing per night | Kes 41,600 per child (5-12 years) sharing per night |
Conservancy fees
Kes 6,500 per adult per day and Kes 2,600 per child (5-12 years) per day
All rates are for Full-board accommodation (excluding drinks from the bar), all meals during your stay, desalinated drinking water, airstrip transfers from Lamu Airport, use of the swimming pool, use of Games Room activities, use of yoga room, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, SUP boarding, laundry and Wi-Fi
Check-in from 12 noon and Check-out by 10am. Later check-out can be arranged by prior arrangement. Additional fees may apply
These rates, terms & conditions are for resident guests – please contact us for non-resident rates
These rates, terms & conditions are valid for stays up until 6th January 2027
Please contact us for rates for fishing, motorised water sports, spa treatments and other activities and excursions
Please contact us to make a booking
Please familiarise yourself with all our terms & conditions when making a booking
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